Regenerative heat-exchange device



Patented Dec. l6, 1927..

rEEDarx LJUNGsrEM, or EnEvIx, LIDINGon, SWEDEN, .assrenoa 'ro AxrIEEona- PATENT OFFICE.

- GET LJUNesrnirs 'ANGrUaEnL or srocxnonm, SWEDEN, A coarom'rron.

nEeENEnA'rrvE rrEA'r-Excrmuen DEvrcE.

Application led- April 11, 1921, Serial No. 460,600, and ijn Sweden April 23, 1920.

My invention relates to heat exchange de- 3vices ofthe so-called regenerative type wherein one uid passes in contact with the surface of a substance and gives off heat to the substance, -whereafter another fiuid passes into contact with'the same surface and is heated. Oneobject ofmy invention is to provide an effective, operable and 4 highly eiiicient heat exchange apparatus of this type.

IFurther objects of the-invention are: toprovide a heater of the type referred to having a largeheat absorbing and heat rejecting surface for a given weight and volume of heater; yto provide an arrangement in which flow is'unrestricted and friction is small; to prevent leakage or short-circuitin offluids between passages for .different uids, particularly at points ywliere inlet and-outlet channels are adjacent the substance serving to absorb and reject heatyand to provide an apparatus capable. of' supplying a uniform quantity of air to a boiler furnace so that furnace combustion is even.4

Further objects will be apparent as the descriptionl proceeds.

The invention consists, .in one feature thereof, in the combination with abody or mass 'of regenerative material composed of metal umts, of means for .continuously all tering the relation Aof supply and discharge channels to sections ofthe metal units to effect a constant continuous and .uniform fiow and heat transfer inthe heat transfer device. In order to obtain continuous 'and uniform flow of fluids, I provide an arran ement such that, at the times when there.

is vc ange of communication of vregenerative passages .between channels for different iuids, such change ofv communication does not disturb continuity7 of flow; and, to this end, preferably -emp y continuously voper-A ating mechanism so acting thatat any given time^of operation, a section of the regenerative material constitutes a art of the path of flow .of the iui'dl to be eated while another section forms part of the path of flow ofthe heated fluid and while still another nation of'la frame-work, supply and dischtrse y,011.murals forhn and hftd metal, in the frame-Work arrange a large surface for a small weight and means ypassagesfor flow of heating of 'the regenerative material. isl

iuids, means for effecting Arelative movement between the frame-work and the channels and regenerative material, (preferably to obtain to prevent, to a high degree, lez'ikagebetweenl channels.

Further features of the invention-consist 1n the employment-in heaters of the type referred to-of metal plates,fiat or corrugated, arranged .to form a multitude of small and heated fluids, the passages being thus surrounded by heat absorbing material, the passages be. ing preferably arranged in the general line of flow through the apparatus and of equal cross-section and parallel to each other to obtain a maximum'` heat transfer effect with a minimum friction loss. To facilitate for-y mation of passa es of equal cross-section, I,

inA some cases,A ivide the frame-work into chambers each containing a unit of regenerative mass. v

The accom anying drawing illustrates .-an

apparatus em odying various features ofmy invention, in five figures,'of which: Fig. v1

shows the apparatus, in vcross-section, ap-

plied to the preheating of air for combustion` in a boiler furnace; Fig. 2 is a sectionV taken "on line 2-2 of Fig. 15 Fig. '3 is a -section taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is [a section taken on line 4:-4: of Fig. 2 and Fig. 5 is a section taken online 5'-5 of Referring more particularly to ig. 1,

numeral 1 designates the furnace ofa boiler which is sup lied -with preheated air for combustion. tion leave the rear of the furnace and pass through return tubes 2 and thence into pas, sageway 3, which serves both as an up-take for the iue gases and a vsupply channel for the hot gases, to a regenerative heating device designated generally by numeral 15'.

c The regenerative what I term a frame-work serving to support or carry a regenerative material. In the embodiment shown the frame-work, designatedA by numeral 4, is ofv cylindricalouter form and is divided 'by concentric walls 21 and radial wallsn22 (see Fi 2) into a, series of aseous products. of combus.

heating device comprises radially and circum erentially disposed g chambers 23 in which the regenerativematerial is placed. The regenerative material is Aarran ed to forni ii series of passaes 19 (see Fig.. 4 through the frame-work or flow offluids. Preferably a multitudejof passages are formed, asshown'.

`The flue-gases after passing through some of the passages formed by the regenerative material and after having givenV off heat to the regenerative material pass out through v' discharge channel or spent gas outlet 6.'

The air for combustion which vis the fluid to be heated enters through supply channel I or cooled air inlet 5, passes through some of vthe passages' formed by the regenerative material, which, at any given time are other than those through which the flue gases pass and thence passes through passageway 7 which, with respect to the regenerative de casing for a driving mechanism 8 serving to move frame work l relatively to the various supply and discharge channels.

The frame-work is situated partly in the path of air which includes channels 5 and 7 and partly in the path of flue gases which includes'channels 3 and 6. In the position shown, the regenerative material in the frame-work at the left hand side is heated by liuc gases and rises in temperature. As thel frame work is rotated by driving mechanism 8 tle heated regenerative material is caused to pass into the path of airthrough channels 5 and 7 where the regenerative material gives oii' heat to the air. On further rotation the section of regenerative material under consideration passes again into tliepath of hot flue gases and is again heated. l The regenerative material consists of a multiplicity of metal members which may be in theiform of straight plates as shown in Fig. 2--in several of the chambers 23a at the rightjl-iand side of the frame-work and lettered 24. or corrugated plates as shown in.

chambers 23 and lettered 25, the plates being placed edgewise to the flow of gases through the frame-work, or in other forms. The metal membersare preferably of such form and `so arranged asto provide a' series of continuous parallel passages of'uniform cross-section through the frame-work.

When corrugated plates are used, they are mounted in such manner that the corrugations' oftwo adjacent surfaces cross each other as shown to the leftof Fig. 1.

With fiat plates, the best. results are ob tained if the distances between ,the plates 'are the Same 111 all places, .The diYsQIs 9i the rotor into radial chambers and the plac- -ing of numerous plates in the chambers ular to the planes determined by the upper and lower ends of walls 2l and 22 and the outer cylindrical drum of the frame-work, that is,perpendicularly to the planes determined by the open ends of the frame-work so that the metal members and the passages formed by the same are in the line of flow of gases through the regenerative heating device,

the friction of gases against the regenerative material is small as compared to previously proposed arrangements in which lire clay re filll generative material is placed crosswise to the flow of gases and arranged to form a tortuous passageway for fluids. lWith. metal members arranged edgewise in the line of flow, the cross-section of passage 19 is very small and yet the friction is low.

Although I have shown different arrange-v ments of regenerative material in diilerent chambers of the frame-work, this is princiV pally done for sake ofmillustration. In practice it is customary to useA the saine type of regenerative material in all chambers of a frame-work.

'Io obtain an etiicient heater it is necessary to have means to prevent leakagebetween the channels for air and the channels for gas. In order to prevent leakage between channels lllf) 5 and 6 and correspondingly between chane nels 3 and 7, at those places in the framework which are open to a passage of gases, I employ what may betermed sector plates designated by numeral 30, the term sector heilig chosen because the plates used are of substantially sector shape. `The sector plates are of such size that they cover any radially disposed series of chambers 23 astliat series passes pastthe sector plate. There are two. sector plates above the frame-work and two 4 below, the-radialcenter lines of the sector f plates being in the plane of partition wall 10. The sector plates under the frame-work arevdirectly below those above the framework. Each chamber 23 is therefore cut off entirely from communication with both gas and air channels at that pointin its travel when its forwardly disposed radial wall with respect to the direction of travel'is just about to enter one channel and its rearwardly disposed wall has just left t-he other channel,

considering, for the moment, that the 'chan-v nels. as they'ate extended into theframework, are determined bythe Vouter efeotive edges of thesector plates. The sector plates by thus successively closing each and all of the chambers as the chambers change com-- below the frame-work are also fitted with centerline flanges 18 fitting into grooves in the lower part of' partition 1U. The latter sector plates are held in Contact with walls 21 and 22 by weights 12 attached to levers 14 pivoted on partition 10 intermediate their ends, and extending into holes 13 in the `rflanges 18, whereby the downward force of' weights 12 gives an upward pressure to plates 30.

At the center of the frame-work, where covering plates 11 are attached over the top and bottom of the hollow center core of the frame-work, the partitions 10 orparts attached to the partitions are arranged so closely to covering plates 11 that leakage is prevented. It will be readily apparent that no matter how carefully an apparatus may be constructed some leakage will take place and, therefore, what I mean by preventingv leakage is to prevent leakage to so high aY In order toprevent by-passing of fluid around the outside of the frame-work with-` out passing through channels 19, I show angular parts 27, together formingan annular ring extending around the frame-work, resting in a recess in a shoulder 26forn'1ed in the regenerator housing `and bearing by their own weightv on the top of the outer drum of the frame-work.

Thile I have shown and described one api paratus embodying my invention, it is obvious that many embodiments falling within the scope of the invention are possible. Many arrangements of regenerative material are possible. Plates with` ribs may be used instead of corrugated plates. Relative movejment between the frame-work andthe inlet and outlet channels may be effected in varions ways. Instead of moving the trarnen l'wor-k, the inlet and outlet channels or passageways may be moved. -The frame-work may rotate, oscillate or have rectilinear movement. 1

As the regenerative heat exchange device with parallel straight plates constitutes onel embodiment and the regenerative heat exchange device with cross-wise placed corrugated4l plates constitutes a second embodiment of the invention, I elect to claim the straight plates herein and reserve the claiming of the cross-wise placed corrugated plates for a separate application Serial No. 579,545,

filed August 3, 1922, the generic invention,

however, being claimed in this application. lVhat I .claim `as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. An apparatus of the class described comprising a plurality of chambers eachv having a multiplicity of heat exchanging plates therein and means for automatically passing hot gases in contact with said plates for a determined eriod and then passing air .to be heated 1n contact therewith for another period.

2.- An apparatus of the'class 'described comprising a plurality' ,of chambers each having a multiplicity of vnested heat exclianging.plates .therein and automatically controlled means for alternately passing hot gases and cool air in contact with said plates for' determined periods of time, the apparat'us being so arranged that the waste gas flows continuously therethrough in one direction and the air.` to be heated also flows continuously in oneidirection. 4 Y 3. An apparatus of the class described comprising a plurality of chambers each having a multiplicity of metal heat exchanging plates therein,`a hot gas inlet and a spent gas outlet common to said chambers, a cool air inlet-,and a heated air outlet common to said chambers and means automatically controlling the passage of both gas and air to and from said chambers at regular-time intervals. f

4. An apparatus of .the class described comprising a plurality of chambers each having a multiplicity of nested metal plates therein arranged to form a multitude of passages having a vast surface and automatically, controlled means for alternately controlling the passage of gas and air respectively through each of' said chambers.

, 5. A regenerative yheat exchange device comprising supply and discharge channels for a fluid to be heated and a fluid giving off heat, a metal regenerative mass arranged to form a multitude yof passages through the same, means to change communication between said passages and .dierent channels, the arrangement being such that at a given time of operation, a multitude of said passages forms part of the path of flow of the tiuid to be heated,while'another multitude .It

of passages forms part of the path of flow of the heating fluid and While still other passages are momentarily out of communication with eithei` path of flow as they change communication with respect to the channels, so that there is a continuous uniform llow of fluid through the heat exchange device and substantially no intermixture of the dill'erent fluids.

(i. A regenerative heat exchange device comprising walls forming compartments, channels for a fluid to be heated and a fluid giving ol't heat, means to change communication between any of said` compartments and different channels, metal regenerative material in said compartments consisting ot members placed in the general line of flow through the compartments, the arrangement being such that, at any one time of operation, a plurality of compartments forms part of the path of flow ot' the fluid to be heated, While another plurality of compartments l'orms part of the path ol' flow of the heating fluid and while still other compartments are changing communication with respect to the channels, so that there is a continuous uniform flow of fluids through the heat exchange device and substantially no intermixture of the diflerent fluids.

7. A regenerative heat exchange device comprising metal regenerative material having passages through the same, channels for a fluid to be heated and a fluid giving ofi' heat, means to change communication be tween any of said passages and different channels, the arrangement being such that, at a given time of operation, a plurality of the passages forms part of the path of flow of the fluid to be heated while another plurality ol' the passages forms part of the path of flow of the heating fluid and While still other passages are momentarily out of cominunication with either path of flow.

8. A regenerative heat exchange device comprising metal regenerative material having a :multitude ot passages through the same, channels for a fluid to be heated and a fluid giving oflheat, continuously moving means to change communication betweensaid passages and different channels and operating so that, at any one time of operation, a multitude-of' the passages forms part of the path ot' the fluid to be heated While another multitude of passages forms part of the path of the heating fluid, While still other passages are changing communication with respect to the channels and so that there is a continuous uniform flow of, fluids through the heat exchange device and substantially no intermixture of the different a fluid giving ofi heat and continuously rotating means operative to change communication between any of said passages and different channels, and operating so that, at any one time of operation, a multitude of the passages forms part of the path of flow of the fluid to be heated while another multitude of the passages forms part of thepath oit floiv of the heating fluid, while still other passages are changing communication with respect to the channels and so that there is a continuous uniform flow ol fluids through the heat exchange device and substantially no intermixture of the different fluids.

l0. A regenerative heat exchange device comprising a trame-Work containing a metal regenerative mass arranged to form a multitude of passages through the same, channels for a fluid to be heated and a fluid giving ofl' heat, and means to provide relative rotation of the frame-Work and the channels to change communication between such i of said passages and different channels, said means operating so that, at any one time oi operation, a plurality of the passages forms part ot' the path of flow of' the fluid to be heated while another plurality of the passages forms part of the path of flow of the heating fluid and while still other passages are changing communication `with respect to the channels.l

l1. A regenerative heat exchange device comprising a cylindrical frame-Work containing a metal regenerative mass arranged to form passages through the same, channels for a fluid to be heated and a fluid giving off heat, means to provide rela.- tive rotation between theframe-Work and the channels operative to successively change communication between said passages an different channels, the arrangement being such that, at any one time of operation, a multitude of the passages on one side of the cylindrical frame-Work forms part of the path of flow of the fluid to b e heated while another multitude of the assages on the other side of the cylindrical frame-Work forms part of the path of flow of the heating fluid and While still other passages, diametrically disposed with respect to the axis of the cylindrical frame-work, are changing communication with respect to the channels.

d los 12. A regenerative heat exchange device comprising a cylindrical rotor containing metal regenerative material having passages through the same, stationar channels for a fluid to be heated and a flui giving off heat, means to rotate the rotor and operative change communicatoin between any of said passages and different channels, the arrangement being such that, at any one time of operation, a plurality of the passages forms part of the path of flow of. the fluid to be heated, while another plurality of the .comprisin 'ipsa'o'asff passages forms mi of the path; "of vam f the heating flui and while still other. "passages, diametrically situated in the'rotor, are

changing communication with respect to the channels. t Y I f 13. A regenerative heat exchan e device be heated and a fluid givingbpi heat, means to' change communication tween any of said compartments and diierent channels,

` faces of the elements from entrance to' exit metal regenerative'material in said compartments comprising a multitude of metal ele of'the regenerative material, the arrange. ment being such that, at vany one .time of "operation, a plurality of compartments form comprisin v supply an 'discharge channels for afluid -to be heated and. a fluid givingbof heat, means ,to change communication.

partei the path of flow of the iluidto' be heated, while another plurality of conzipart#l ments form part of the path of flow ofthe heating fluid while still other compartments are changing oii'imu'nication with respect to' the channels so thatthere is a continuous uniform flow of fluid 'through the heat exchange device and substantia ly lio intermixture of fluids. 14. A regenerative. heat exchange device walls forming compartments,

etwee'n any. of said compartments and different channels, metal regenerative material in said compartents comprising a multitude of metal ele# ments extending'in the same v"gfeneral' direction and in the general line oflow through the compartments, said metal'elements havin ends which 'determine entrai'ices and exits into and out of regenerativematcrial and being s o constructedipgaid arranged that continuoifs` lines mayr be* extended on the surfaces o f the elementsl from e rance to exit of the regenerative material, t e arrangement beingsuch that, at a' give X time of operation a'plurality of'fcoinpartme'nts form part-ot the path of flow of the 'fluid to `be heated, while another-plurality of com artmen'ts form part of the path o f flow ot tlie heating Huid while still other lconipartments are momentarily-'out of communication with 'either path ofilow' astliey. change communication -with A`vrespect to the channels so thattheile Ais .a cont1nuous ,uni

form 'flow of Huid throiigh vthe heat exchange u device and substantially no uld, u 15. A regenera ivefheating device having passages for ui'ds and ,wherein heat is ab-A walls forming comp rtment's, supply .an discharge channels for a fluid Yto stracted from one uid throu 'h the i same and is giv'eii oi to another lui pass# ing through the same, the Huid-passim alternately throughthesame passages,'sai vdevice comprising .a frame-work, su ply and discharge channels. for the fluid tch 4 e heated.' and the fluid giving 0H heat, means for eff fecting relative movement between said..

frame-work on the one hand and'said sup- .A

ply and discharge channels on the other hand, metal material 'in said frame-work to absorb and give oiz' heat, saidmetal ,i material consisting of a series oathin ele?? ments- 4having relatively large surface in L -proportion totheir volume so-thatl a small volume-of' heater is obtained fora largesu'r-A face of heat absorption and l rejection and vmeans to'preven't passage of-gases-froin one 4ch ann'el' tof-the other in-.all positions of relative movement. r

" passages for luids and Wherein-'heat-is abstracted from a fluidv passing"V through the -same and assing throu said device comprising supply an'f is- "16. A regenerative heating {device-hav-ing',

'ven ofi to lanother liliiid` ing alternately through the same"passages,A

charge channels for the iluidtofbe heated '.and the.iluid giving o i' heat,"a `irame-vvfork lhaving va main vbody portion with open ends,

Asaid 'open ends, determining planes and, a

. pluralityiof metal elementsjservingto ab- 'sorbf and give off heat and arrangedin said i 'fram-vvork perpendicularly to the planes .of

the open ends in theline of flow' 'of gases ind through theframe-work andmeans foreffecting. relative movement. ibetv'veen,- said framework on the one h ai'id andsaid supply and discharge channels en@ the other -17 A-regenerativeheatingv device 'having passages for'fiuids andavvherein heat is `ab-A s tracted from '-one iuid'passing through the' *same and .is given oi to'another' Ailuid'passing through' the same, the. fluids passing alter- :discharge channels for the uid to lno -:frame-Work `on the one hand and said sup- 'a ply ,and discharge channels jon-the other hand, said frame-work having open ends de-` termining planes and -walls' 'within said frame-work forming. chambers, a plurality of heat arranged i said chambers perpendicu" larly to the planes 'of vthe .open ends and in the linevof How offgases through the frame work, platesXarriang'edat the ends of' said gwalls, vsid frame-wei'flrfand relative movement andi-said a'tes bein of such size as to eover'eacho said-,cham rs successively ias thaichambers 'change communication withir'espeetftothe. v.cliaiiiels so' lates having 120 metal elements serving toabsorb and give-ofi' A .that passage of fluid from one channel to the other is prevented in all positions of relative movement. i

j! 8.'A regenerative heating device having passages for fluids and wherein heat is abstracted from one fluidpassing through the same and is 'given off to another uld passing.

thrgugh the same, the iiuids passing alter nately through the same passages, said denels for-the fluid to be heated and the fluid giving off heat, a frame-work having open' ends, saidopen endsdetermining planes,'a fseries otmetal plates serving to-absorb and l5 give off heatarranged in said frame-work perpendicularly to the' planes of the open ends and parallel to the lineof iiow ofgases through the frame-work and means for effecting a relative movement between the frame-work on the one hand andsaid supply and discharge channelson the other hand.

19. A regenerative heating` device Vfor fluids wherein heat is abstracted from" one fluid passing through the same and is given off to another Huid passing through-the same,

said device comprisin supplyand discharge channels for the' flui to be heated and the fluid giving off heat, a frame-work, walls in l'said frame-work forming chambers, a series of 'metal plates4 in said chambers, said framel' work havin open ends, said open ends determining perpendicu arly to the planes of'- the `open end'sfand of such form as te providev a serres 20. A regenerative heating 'ously throu h the 'same and is given oi to V another flui passing continuously through the same,l the fluidsl `.passing alternately through the same passages, said device com- 'prising a frame-work, supply and discharge I channelsfor the fluid to be heated and the fluid giving off heat, means for effecting relative, movement between' said frame-work on the one handand said supply and discharge channels on theother hand, said frame-work includingwalls forming'chambers, regenerative material in said chambers, plates 'arranged atthe ends of said walls, said framef work, and plates having relative movement and said plates bein of such size as to close each of said-cham rs successively as the chambers change communication from one channel to the otherV so that passage of fluid from one channel tothe other is prevented at all times.

'vice comprising supply and discharge chan` anes, said plates helng arrangedv of continuous. parallel passages of .substanf 4 device lhaving passages'for fluids andwherein heat is ab' stracted from one fluid passing cont1nu 21. regenerative heating device -comprising a series of heat exchange units, each comprising a plurality oi metal elements forming a passageway system comprising a pluralit of passages, means. to. alternately pass-di erent fluids through the same said passages, and means Ato isolate a portion of the passageway system at certain times when there is a change of fluids with respectto 4said portion of the passageway system.

22. A regenerative ,heating device comprising a series of heat exchange units, each comprising a plurality of metal plates arranged to form a passageway system comprising a plurality of passages of substanf tially uniform cross-section, means to alternately pass di'erent fluids through the same said passages and means to visolate a portion of the passageway system at certain times when there is a change of uids with respect to said portion of the passageway system.

. 23. A regenerative heat exchange device' comprising acylindrical frame-work, a series'of equally vspaced radial walls dividing said frame-work into a series lof chambers,

metal regenerative material in said chambers.

serving to subdivide saidchambers into a multiplicity of small passages for How of fluid, and channels for "passmgheating and heated fluids alternately through the same said passages.

. 24. An apparatus of the class described comprising a plurali of chambers each having therein a multiplicity `of thin metal; heat exchanging plates having a large ratio 10 of surface to volume/and means for automatically passing hot gases in contact with] said plates for a determined periodandthen.

'passing' air to be heated in contact therewith for another period, said heat exchanging 4plates 'beinfg arrangedtoA extend in the general line o .flow ofuid through the chambers. 25. An apparatus of the class described `comprising' a 4plurality of chambers each having therein a multiplicity of nested heat exchanging plates having a large. ratio of surface to volume and automatically controlled means for alternately .passing hotA a l gases and cool air in contact with said platea for determined vperiods of time, the `apparatus being so arranged that the waste gas flows continuously therethrough in one -d'v rectionand the air to be heated also Hows Acontinuously in one,` direction, said plates forming a` multitude of parallel of uniform cross-section in the prising a series of heat exchangeu'nt's,

cral'line of flow of fluid throughvthe cham rs. Vj 26. A regenerative heating-device corn-'fv comprising a plurality ofmetal elements.V A

forming a passageway system com plurality of passa ,means to, pass different ui s through the same imidternataly passages,- and means tov isolate aportion of w the passageway system at certain times when there is a change of fluids with respect to a portion ofthe passageway system, said metal elements being arranged to extend in the general line of flow of fluid through the device and having a large' ratio of surface to volume.

27. A regenerative heat exchange device comprising supply and discharge channels for a fluid to be heated and a Huid giving ott heat,`a metal regenerative mass arranged to form a multitude of passages through the said channels.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

FREDRICK LJUNGSTRM. 

